Every 19^th of November, the World Toilet Day is celebrated. The celebration started on November 19, 2013. Since then, the date has been an annual United Nations observance.

This year’s theme is “Making the Invisible Visible”.

The above theme focuses on the impact of poor sanitation on groundwater, and how inadequate sanitation systems spread human waste into rivers, lakes, and soil, polluting underground water resources. Safely managed sanitation protects groundwater from human waste pollution.

The entire world faces a global sanitation crisis. There are around 3.6 billion people who are still living with poor quality toilets that ruin their health and pollute their environment. Inadequate sanitation systems spread human waste into rivers, lakes, and soil, contaminating the water resources under our feet. The link between sanitation and groundwater cannot be overlooked.

Everyone must have access to a toilet connected to a sanitation system that effectively removes and treats human waste.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2., ensure safe toilets for all by 2030. The data showed that that world is off track in terms of achieving the said SDG.

With only eight years left, the world needs to work four times faster to meet this target.

In the Philippines, the 2023-2025 Barangay, Municipal, City and Provincial Nutrition Action Plans (NAPs) are being formulated. Form part of the plan is the intervention reacted water, hygiene and sanitation which include among others toilet construction and zero open defecation (ZOD). It is under the nutrition sensitive intervention.

Access to safe water and toilets ensures the general population specially women and children away from water and vector-borne diseases. Occurrence of both diseases is brought about by unsanitary and unsafe environment. These diseases affect the nutritional status of children due to bouts of diarrheas which can be detrimental and can cause child mortality.

Ensuring interventions related to safe water, functional toilets, sanitation, and hygiene in the LGUs respective LNAP ensures healthier community. #RNPC-CPD